Tree Removal Dereel
Dereel has been through more than one serious fire, and the most recent, on 28 February 2024, came right up to people’s houses. That’s what most tree work in Dereel comes back to: what’s growing close to the house, over the roof and along the driveway when the next fire day comes.
This page from Tree Removal Ballarat covers what to clear, what needs a permit and what to do with fire-damaged trees.
The February 2024 fire
On a catastrophic fire danger day, a blaze at Dereel was whipped up by strong hot winds. Residents of Dereel, Corindhap and Rokewood Junction were told to shelter indoors. Up to 400 firefighters fought it overnight before it was brought under control early the next morning.
Firefighters saved 117 homes, and at least one outbuilding was lost. The emergency management commissioner said crews were putting the fire out on doorsteps, back pergolas and in front and back yards.
Dereel had burned before. An earlier grass fire there burned through about 1,300 hectares and destroyed at least five homes.
What that means for trees around your house
When fire reaches yards and pergolas, the vegetation nearest the house matters most. These are the jobs worth prioritising before summer:
| Where | What to look at |
|---|---|
| Within 10 m of the house | Shrubs and trees right against walls, decks and pergolas. If your home qualifies under the 10/30 or 10/50 rules, vegetation here can usually be cleared without a permit. |
| Over the roof | Branches overhanging the roof drop leaves and bark into gutters, which is a common place for embers to start spot fires. |
| Under trees near the house | CFA’s standard defendable space conditions call for at least 2 m between the lowest branches and the ground, so fire on the ground can’t climb into the canopy. |
| The driveway | Allow 4 m of clear height and 0.5 m either side, so a fire truck can get in. See canopy lifting. |
The bushfire exemptions don’t override covenants or permit conditions, and they don’t cover clearing for new buildings. See our land clearing page for how they work.
Permits beyond the house zone
Outside the distances the bushfire exemptions cover, native trees and understorey are generally protected, and removing them needs a planning permit unless another exemption applies. Native vegetation includes grasses and groundcover. Check your address on VicPlan and ask the Golden Plains Shire’s planning team before clearing larger areas.
Fire-damaged trees
After a fire, trees can look better or worse than they are. A tree that’s burnt at the base, hollowed out, or leaning more than before can fall without warning, sometimes days or weeks later. Keep people and vehicles away from scorched trees near the house, driveway or fences until they’ve been assessed. See our arborist page.
Nearby areas
We also cover Rokewood, to the south-west, and Scarsdale to the north.
Common questions
Can I clear around my house in Dereel without a permit?
Often, yes, within the distances allowed under the 10/30 or 10/50 bushfire rules, if your home qualifies. Beyond that, or if a covenant or permit condition applies, check with council first.
Should I remove every tree near the house?
Not necessarily. Lifting branches clear of the ground, removing those over the roof, and clearing shrubs against the walls often makes more difference than removing a whole tree. What matters is the fuel close to the house.
A tree was scorched in the fire. Will it survive?
Many eucalypts recover from scorched leaves. Burning at the base or hollowing of the trunk is more serious. Have it assessed if it’s near anything it could fall on.
What should I send for a quote?
Photos of the trees around the house and driveway, rough heights, what’s nearby (the house, sheds, fences, power lines), and any bushfire plan or permit conditions on your property.
Get a quote in Dereel
Send photos and your address through the form, or call to talk it through.